Description
Santa Maria della Spina is a small Gothic church on the left bank of the Arno, in Pisa: an architecture of polychrome marble, all spires, tabernacles and statues. It takes its name from a thorn from Christ's crown, which tradition says arrived here in 1333.
The richest part is the exterior. On the south side a gallery of pinnacled tabernacles holds the statues of the twelve Apostles, and above them the prophets.
The facade has the Madonna and Child attributed to Giovanni Pisano, with angels at the sides. On the apse a door is flanked by marble inlays and topped by a reused Greek-Syrian lintel from the 3rd century.
The east side has statues of saints from the workshop of Nino Pisano and, above the presbytery, a Madonna and Child by Nino himself, between two angels.
Inside it is much simpler: a single hall with a wooden ceiling decorated in the 19th century, used for exhibitions. Under the Medici the little church gained a marble choir by Andrea Guardi, from 1453, and a tabernacle by Stagio Stagi, from 1534, which housed the relic of the Thorn.
In the middle of the presbytery is the Madonna of the Rose by Andrea and Nino Pisano, between St. Peter and St. John the Baptist.
It was built in 1230 at the wish of the Gualandi family, at the foot of a bridge that later collapsed in the 15th century, and was called Santa Maria di Pontenovo. Like all bridge oratories, it belonged to the Commune.
From 1323 the Commune enlarged it and covered it with spires, tabernacles and statues, probably with the workshop of Lupo di Francesco, then that of Andrea and Nino Pisano. But it had an awkward neighbor: the river, and ground that kept giving way.
After the Unification of Italy it was decided to take it apart and rebuild it elsewhere. From 1871 to 1875 it was moved a few meters to the east and raised by a meter. The operation was costly: marbles destroyed, statues badly restored or replaced, the sacristy hanging over the river never rebuilt. John Ruskin, passing through Pisa, was outraged.
Don't miss
• The south side.
• The facade.
• The Madonna of the Rose.
• The Greek-Syrian lintel.
Did you know?
• The freestanding statues on the exterior are copies: since 1996 the originals have been in the Museo Nazionale di San Matteo.
• The Thorn is no longer here: since the 19th century it has been kept in the church of Santa Chiara.
• The Madonna of the Milk on the inner facade is a plaster copy: the original is in the Museo di San Matteo.
The richest part is the exterior. On the south side a gallery of pinnacled tabernacles holds the statues of the twelve Apostles, and above them the prophets.
The facade has the Madonna and Child attributed to Giovanni Pisano, with angels at the sides. On the apse a door is flanked by marble inlays and topped by a reused Greek-Syrian lintel from the 3rd century.
The east side has statues of saints from the workshop of Nino Pisano and, above the presbytery, a Madonna and Child by Nino himself, between two angels.
Inside it is much simpler: a single hall with a wooden ceiling decorated in the 19th century, used for exhibitions. Under the Medici the little church gained a marble choir by Andrea Guardi, from 1453, and a tabernacle by Stagio Stagi, from 1534, which housed the relic of the Thorn.
In the middle of the presbytery is the Madonna of the Rose by Andrea and Nino Pisano, between St. Peter and St. John the Baptist.
It was built in 1230 at the wish of the Gualandi family, at the foot of a bridge that later collapsed in the 15th century, and was called Santa Maria di Pontenovo. Like all bridge oratories, it belonged to the Commune.
From 1323 the Commune enlarged it and covered it with spires, tabernacles and statues, probably with the workshop of Lupo di Francesco, then that of Andrea and Nino Pisano. But it had an awkward neighbor: the river, and ground that kept giving way.
After the Unification of Italy it was decided to take it apart and rebuild it elsewhere. From 1871 to 1875 it was moved a few meters to the east and raised by a meter. The operation was costly: marbles destroyed, statues badly restored or replaced, the sacristy hanging over the river never rebuilt. John Ruskin, passing through Pisa, was outraged.
Don't miss
• The south side.
• The facade.
• The Madonna of the Rose.
• The Greek-Syrian lintel.
Did you know?
• The freestanding statues on the exterior are copies: since 1996 the originals have been in the Museo Nazionale di San Matteo.
• The Thorn is no longer here: since the 19th century it has been kept in the church of Santa Chiara.
• The Madonna of the Milk on the inner facade is a plaster copy: the original is in the Museo di San Matteo.